.D- 



\J \J I \J 



Hollinger 

pH8.5 

Mill Run F3-1 955 



E 473 
.2 

.C71 
Copy 1 



PENNSYLVANIA COM- 
^ MANDERY OF THE 
NAVAL ORDER OF THE 
UNITED STATES^ .^^^^ 



S49JS 



l'-'<^c£^i^ fuJ^^^-^iijuo ^' 



/J T THE meeting of the Pennsylvania Commandery, 
Naval Order of the United Slates, held at the 
Hotel Bellevue, on the evenifig of March pth, i8p8, on 
motion of Hejiry M. Dechert, Esq., it was 

RESOL VED, ' ' That the description of the fight 
between the Monitor and Merrimac on the pth of March, 
1862, given by Major R. S. Collum, U. S. M. C, 
and the copy of the letter written by Lieutenant S. Dana 
Greene, the Executive Officer of the Monitor, to his father 
and mother, be published, and that a copy be sent to each 
mcTnber of the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States.''^ 



E4 75 



Published by order of the Pennsyl- 
vania Commandery, Naval Order of 
the United States. 

James V. P. Turner, 
Recorder. 
Room 517, City Hall, Phila. 



was built over, the sides being at an angle of 55 de- 
grees, a roof of oak and pitch pine extending from 
the water line to a height of seven feet above the gun 
deck. Both ends of this structure were rounded, so 
that the pivot guns could be used as bow and stern 
chasers, or quartering; over the gun deck was a light 
grating, making a promenade twenty feet wide, 

"The wood backing was covered with iron plates 
rolled at the Tredagar works in Richmond. These 
plates were eight inches wide and two inches thick. 
The first covering was put on horizontally ; the sec- 
ond up and down, making a total thickness of iron of 
four inches, strongly bolted to the woodwork and 
clinched inside. 

"The ram was of cast-iron, projecting four feet, 
and, as was found subsequently, was badly secured. 
The rudder and propeller were entirely unprotected. 
The pilot-house was forward of the smokestack and 
covered with the same thickness of iron as the sides. 

"Her battery consisted of two 7-inch rifles, which 
were the bow and stern pivots, in broadside two 6-inch 
rifles and six 9-inch smooth bores ; in all ten heavy 
guns. 

"She represented at the moment the most power- 
ful fighting ship in the world. 

When this formidable vessel on the 8th of March 
got under way and proceeded down Elizabeth River, 
the following vessels composed our fleet at anchor off 
Fort Monroe : The Minnesota, of 40 guns. Captain 
Van Brunt ; Roanoke, of 40 guns, Captain Marston ; 
St. Lawrence, 50 guns, Captain Purviance ; and several 



6 



THE memorable action between the Monitor and 
the Merrimac in Hampton Roads on March 
9, 1862, was commemorated at the Hotel 
Bellevue, Philadelphia, on the evening of March 9, 
1898, by a dinner given by the Pennsylvania Com- 
mandery, Naval Order of the United States. 

The distinguished guests were Hon. C. A. 
Boutelle, Chairman of the House Naval Committee, 
Rear Admiral Bancroft Gherardi, U. S. N. , and Hon. 
Charles F. Warwick, Mayor of Philadelphia. 

The following description was given by Major 
R. S. Collum, the Historian of the Pennsylvania 
Commandery, who was an eye witness of the historic 
struggle: — 

"On the 8th of March, 1862, a great disaster 
overtook the Union in Hampton Roads, filling the 
country with dismay, and even bringing the people to 
doubt the success of the cause for which they had 
labored so hard. 

"When our officers set fire to the buildings of the 
Norfolk Navy Yard it was supposed that every pre- 
caution had been taken to destroy everj^thing of value. 
The Merrimac had been sunk, but the lower part of 
her hull and her engines and boilers were not injured. 
This vessel was raised by the Confederate authorities. 
Both ends for a distance of seventy feet were covered 
over, and when the ship was in fighting trim were just 
awash. On the midship section, a length of 170 feet 



army transports. Seven miles above, off Newport 
News, lay the Congress, 50 guns, and the Cumberland, 
30 guns. Newport News was well fortified and garri- 
soned by a large Union force. 

' ' I will not take up your time by a description of 
the appalling disaster to the Union arms on that fatal 
day. Our re-union to-night is to celebrate the most 
gallant encounter between two fighting machines, a 
pigmy and a giant, and which marked a new era in 
naval warfare. 

"At sundown when the Merrimac returned to 
Sewall's Point and anchored, an avenger was then 
approaching from the sea, destined to revive the droop- 
ing spirits of loyal hearts and turn the tide of victory 
to defeat for the Confederates. 

"At 9 o'clock at night Ericsson's little Monitor, 
under the command of lyieutenant John I^. Worden, 
arrived from New York, after experiencing trials and 
difficulties sufficient to have appalled an ordinary 
officer. 

' ' It was a great relief to the officers and men of 
the squadron to know that an iron-clad of any descrip- 
tion was at hand to assist them, but when they saw 
the little 'nondescript,' her decks level with the water, 
and appearing above it only her pilot-house and a small 
turret, in which latter were two 11 -inch guns, they 
could not feel very sanguine of the result of the com- 
ing conflict. 

' ' Lieutenant Worden was ordered to proceed at 
midnight and take position alongside the Minnesota 
to be ready to receive the Merrimac. 



"The morning dawned clear and bright, and it 
was difficult to realize that 250 men had on the pre- 
vious day lost their lives in the defense of their flag 
in a hopeless contest. 

"The flag still floated from the Cumberland, while 
the smoke from the Congress ascended to heaven. 
The Minnesota lay hard and fast aground, while the 
Roanoke and St. Lawrence were a few hundred yards 
down towards the fort, the officers and men at their 
quarters, where they had been all night ; marks of 
the destructive shot and shell from the Merrimac visi- 
ble. At 8 A. M. the Merrimac was perceived ap- 
proaching. When she had come within a mile of the 
Minnesota that vessel opened upon her and signalled 
the Monitor to attack. Then came the contest which 
was to exert so important an influence upon naval 
architecture. Running down the wake of the frigate, 
the tiny Monitor placed herself alongside of her huge 
antagonist and fired gun after gun, which were re- 
turned by whole broadsides without effect. After a 
time the little vessel began manoeuvring, shooting by 
her antagonist and sending her shots first into the bow, 
and again raking her stern, while broadside after 
broadside was fired from the Merrimac, either passing 
quite over, or, if they struck, glancing harmless from 
her bomb-proof turret. 

' ' The Merrimac attempted to ram her antagonist, 
but before the vessel could gather headway the 
Monitor turned, and the prow of the Merrimac gave a 
glancing blow, which did no harm whatever. The 
Monitor came upon the Merrimac' s quarter, her bow 

8 



actually against the ship's side, and at this distance 
fired twice. Both shots struck about half way up the 
Merrimac's armor, abreast of the after pivot, and so 
severe was the blow that the side was forced in several 
inches. 

"It is said that Lieutenant Jones, the Executive 
Ofi5cer of the Merrimac, having occasion to visit the 
gun deck, saw a division standing at ease, and inquir- 
ing of the ofl&cer in command why he was not firing, 
that individual replied : 'After firing for two hours I 
can do the enemy about as much damage by snapping 
my fingers at him every two minutes and a half.' 

' ' Finding that she could make no impression on 
the Monitor, the Merrimac again gave her attention 
to the Minnesota, returning a tremendous and futile 
broadside from the frigate with a shot from her rifled 
bow gun, which went crashing through the vessel, 
bursting in the boatswain's room, and setting fire to 
the ship. The fire was, however, promptly extin- 
guished. The second shell exploded the boiler of the 
tug alongside. The Monitor by this time came between 
the contending vessels, forcing the Merrimac to change 
her position. In doing this she grounded. As soon 
as she got off she stood down the bay, chased at full 
speed by the Monitor. Suddenly she turned and made 
for her antagonist, and for a time the contest between 
this seemingly ill-matched pair was again hot and 
furious. After a time the Merrimac seemed to tire of 
the fray, and again headed towards the frigate. It 
was a trying moment for the Minnesota, fast aground 
and badly crippled, but the enemy had no mind to 



renew the experience of the morning, and it being 
shortly after noon, retreated to Sewall's Point. During 
the night Captain Van Brunt succeeded in getting his 
ship afloat, and next morning was safely anchored at 
Fort Monroe. Towards the close of this terrific en- 
gagement a percussion shell exploded against the look- 
out of the pilot-house of the Monitor, where Lieutenant 
Worden, who so brilliantly fought his vessel, and who 
thus made himself in a few hours the hero of the day, 
was stationed during the engagement. The result 
was a serious injury to the eyes of that officer, which, 
with the effects of the concussion, so disabled him as 
to oblige him to place the vessel in command of Lieu- 
tenant S. Dana Greene, the Executive Officer. 

"The Monitor saved not only the squadron but 
the honor of the nation, and her gallant commander is 
fully entitled to the honors he received. 

" Thus ended this remarkable engagement, which, 
in the bravery and ability displayed on both sides has 
never been excelled." 

In response to the toast, "The Monitor, Her 
Officers and Crew." A. C. Oliphant, of Trenton, N. J., 
read a copy of a letter from Lieutenant S. Dana 
Greene, the young officer who took charge of the 
Monitor after Lieutenant Worden was wounded. This 
letter was written on March 14, 1862, to Lieutenant 
Greene's mother, and is considered the best account 
of the battle and the perilous trip of the Monitor from 
New York to Hampton Roads, extant. 



[copy] 

"U. S. Steamer 'Monitor,' t^ 

"Hampton Roads, March 14, 1862. 

" My dear Mother and Father: 

" I commence this now but I don't know when I 
shall finish, as I have to write it at odd moments, when 
I can find a few minutes rest. When I bade Charley 
good-night on Wednesday, the 5th, I confidently ex- 
pected to see you the next day, as I then thought it 
would be impossible to finish our repairs on Thursday, 
but the mechanics worked all night and at 11 a. m., 
on Thursday, we started down the harbor in company 
with the gun-boats Sachem and Currituck. We went 
along very nicely and when we arrived at Governor's 
Island the steamer Seth Low came alongside and took 
us in tow. We went out past the Narrows with a 
light wind from the west and very smooth water. The 
weather continued the same all Thursday night. I 
turned out at 6 o'clock on Friday morning, and from 
that time until Monday at 7 p. m. I think I lived ten 
good years. About noon the wind freshened and the 
sea was quite rough. In the afternoon the sea was 
breaking over our decks at a great rate, and coming 
in our hawse pipes, forward, in perfect floods. Our 
berth deck hatch leaked in spite of all we could do, 
and the water came down under the tower like a water 
fall. It would strike the pilot house and go over the 
tower in most beautiful curves. The water came 
through the narrow eye-holes in the pilot house with 
such force as to knock the helmsman completely 



round from the wheel. At four o'clock the water had 
gone down our smoke-stacks and blowers to such an 
extent that the blowers gave out, and the engine room 
was filled with gas. Then, Mother, occurred a scene 
I shall never forget. Our engineers behaved like 
heroes, every one of them. They fought with the gas, 
endeavoring to get the blowers to work, until they 
dropped down apparently as dead as men ever were. 
I jumped in the engine room with my men as soon as 
I could and carried tliera on top of the tower to get 
fresh air. I was nearly suffocated with the gas mj^self, 
but got on deck after every one was out of the engine 
room, just in time to save myself. Three firemen 
were in the same condition as the engineers. Then 
times looked rather blue, I can assure you. We had no 
fear as long as the engine could be kept going, to 
pump out the water, but when that stopped, the water 
increased rapidly. I immediately rigged the hand 
pump on the berth deck, but as we were obliged to 
lead the hose out over the tower, there was not force 
enough in the pump to throw the water out; our only 
resource now was to bail, and that was useless as we 
had to pass the buckets up through the tower, which 
made it a very long operation. What to do now we 
did not know. We had done all in our power and 
must let things take their own course. Fortunately, 
the wind was off shore, so we hailed the tug boat and 
told them to steer directly for the shore in order to get in 
smooth water. At eight p. m. we managed to get the 
engines to go, and ever5^thing was comparatively 
quiet again. The Captain had been up nearly all the 



previous night, and as we did not like to leave the 
deck without one of us being there, I told him I 
would keep the watch from eight to twelve, he take it 
from twelve to four and I would relieve him from four 
to eight. Well, the first watch passed off very nicely, 
smooth sea, clear sky, the moon out and the old tank 
going along five and six knots very nicely. All I had 
to do was to keep awake and think over the narrow 
escape we had in the afternoon. At twelve o'clock 
things looked so favorable I told the Captain he need 
not turn out; I would lay down with my clothes on, 
and if anything happened I would turn out and 
attend to it. He said very well, and I went to my 
room and hoped to get a little nap, I had scarcely 
got to my bunk, when I was startled by the most 
infernal noise that I ever heard in my life. The 
Merrimac's firing on Sunday last was music to it. 
We were just passing a shoal and the sea suddenly 
became very rough right ahead. It came up with 
tremendous force through our anchor well, and forced 
the air through our hawse pipes, where the chain 
comes, and then the water would come through in a 
perfect stream clear to our berth deck over the ward 
room table. The noise resembled the death groans of 
twenty men, and certainly was the most dismal, awful 
sound I ever heard. Of course the Captain and my- 
self were on our feet in a moment and endeavoring to 
stop the hawse pipe. We succeeded partially, but 
now the water commenced to come down our blowers 
again, and we feared the same accident that happened 
in the afternoon. We tried to hail the tug boat, but 



the wind being directly ahead they could not hear us, 
and we had no way of signalling to them as the steam 
whistle which Father recommended had not been put 
on. We commenced to think then the Monitor would 
never see daylight. We watched carefully every drop 
of water that went down the blowers, and sent con- 
tinually to ask the fireman how the blowers were 
going; his only answer was ' slowl)', but could not be 
kept going much longer unless we could stop the 
water from coming down.' The sea was washing 
completely over our decks and it was dangerous for a 
man to go on them, so we could do nothing to the 
blowers. In the midst of all this our wheel ropes 
jumped oflf the steering wheel (owing to the pitching 
of the ship) and became jammed. She now com- 
menced to sheer about at an awful rate, and we 
thought that our hawser must certainly part. For- 
tunately, it was a new one and held on well. In the 
course of half an hour we fixed the wheel ropes and 
now our blowers were the only difficulty. About 
three o'clock on Saturdaj^ morning the sea became a 
little smoother, though still rough and going down 
our blowers to some extent, and the never failing 
answer from the engine room ' blowers going slowly, 
but can't go much longer.' From four o'clock until 
daylight was certainly the longest hour and a half I 
ever spent. I certainly thought old Sol had stopped in 
China and never intended to pay us another visit. 
At last, however, we could see, and made the tug 
boat understand to go nearer in shore and get in 
smooth water, which we did at about eight o'clock. 



A. M. Things were again a little quiet, but every- 
thing wet and uncomfortable below. The decks and 
air ports leaked and the water still came down the 
hatches and under the tower. I was busy all day 
making out my station bills and attending to 
different things that constantly required my attention. 
At three p. m. we parted our hawser, but fortunately, 
it was quite smooth and we secured it without diffi- 
culty. At four p. M. we passed Cape Henry and 
heard heavy firing in the direction of Fortress Mon- 
roe. As we approached it increased, and we 
immediately cleared ship for action. When about 
half way between Fortress Monroe and Cape Henry 
we spoke a pilot boat. He told us the Cumberland 
was sunk and the Congress was on fire, and had 
surrendered to the Merrimac. We did not credit it at 
first, but as we approached Hampton Roads we could 
see the fine old Congress burning brightly, and we 
knew then it must be so. Sadly indeed did we feel to 
think those two fine old vessels had gone to their last 
homes, with so many of their brave crews. Our 
hearts were very full and we vowed vengence on the 
Merrimac if it should ever be our lot to fall in with 
her. At nine p. m. we anchored near the frigate 
Roanoke, the flag ship. Captain Mars ton (the Major's 
brother). Captain Worden immediately went on 
board, and received orders from Newport News to 
protect the Minnesota (which was aground) from the 
Merrimac. We immediately got under weigh and 
arrived at the Minnesota at eleven p. m. I went on 
board in our cutter and asked the Captain what his 



prospects were of getting off. He said he should try 
to get afloat at two A. m., when it was high water. I 
asked him if we could render him any assistance, to 
which he replied no. I then told him we should do 
all in our power to protect him from the attacks of the 
Merrimac. He thanked me kindly and wished us 
success. Just as I arrived back to the Monitor, the 
Congress blew up and certainly a grander sight was 
never seen, but it went straight to the marrow of our 
bones. Not a word was said, but deep did each man 
think, and wish he was by the side of the Merrimac. 
At one A. M. we anchored near the Minnesota. The 
Captain and myself remained on deck waiting for the 
Merrimac. At three A. m. we thought the Minne- 
sota was afloat and coming down on us, so we got 
under weigh as soon as possible and stood out of the 
channel. After backing and filling about for an hour, 
we found we were mistaken, and anchored again. At 
daylight we discovered the Merrimac at anchor with 
several vessels under Sewall's Point. We immediately 
made every preparation for battle. At eight a. m. on 
Sunday, the Merrimac got under weigh, accompanied 
by several steamers, and started direct for the Minne- 
sota. By this time our anchor was up, the men at 
quarters, the guns loaded, and everything ready for 
action. As the Merrimac came closer, the Captain 
passed the word to commence firing. I triced up the 
port, run the gun out, and fired the first gun, and thus 
commenced the great battle between the Monitor and 
the Merrimac. 

' ' Now mark the condition our men and officers 



were in. Since Friday morning (forty-eight hours) they 
had had no rest and very little food, as we could not 
conveniently cook. They had been hard at work all 
night, ai'd nothing to eat for breakfast except hard 
bread, and were thoroughly worn out. As for myself, 
I had not slept a wink for fifty-one hours and had 
been on my feet almost constantly. But after the first 
gun was fired we forgot all fatigues, hard work and 
everything else, and went to work fighting as hard 
as men ever fought. We loaded and fired as fast as 
we could. I pointed and fired the guns myself. Every 
shot I would ask the Captain the effect and the 
majority of them were encouraging. The Captain 
was in the pilot-house directing the movements of the 
vessel. Acting Master Stodder was stationed at the 
wheel which turns the tower, but as he could not 
manage it he was relieved by Stimers. The speaking 
trumpet from the tower to the pilot house was broken, 
so we passed the word from the Captain to myself on 
the berth deck, by Paymaster Keeler and Captain's 
clerk Toffey. Five times during the engagement we 
touched each other, and each time I fired a gun at her 
and I will vouch the i68 lbs. penetrated her sides. 
Once she tried to run us down with her iron prow but 
did no damage whatever. After fighting for two 
hours we hauled off for half an hour to hoist shot in 
the tower. At it we went again as hard as we could. 
The shot, shell, grape, canister, musket and rifle balls 
flew about us in every direction, but did us no damage. 
Our tower was struck several times and though the 
noise was pretty loud it did not affect us any. Stodder 

17 



and one of the men were carelessly leaning against the 
tower when a shot struck the tower exactly opposite to 
them and disabled them for an hour or two. At about 
11.30 the Captain sent for me. I went forward and 
there stood as noble a man as lives, at the foot of the 
ladder of the pilot-house. His face was perfectly black 
with powder and iron and he was apparently perfectly 
blind. I asked him what was the matter. He said a 
shot had struck the pilot-house exactly opposite his 
eyes and blinded him, and he thought the pilot-house 
was damaged. He told me to take charge of the ship 
and use my own discretion. I led him to his room 
and laid him on the sofa and then took his position. 
On examining the pilot-house I found the iron hatch 
on top had been knocked about half-way off and the 
second iron log from the top on the forward side, was 
completely cracked through. We still continued firing, 
the tower being under the direction of Stimers. We 
were between two fires. The Minnesota on one side 
and the Merrimac on the other. The latter was 
retreating to Sewall's Point and the Minnesota had 
struck us twice on the tower. I knew if another shot 
should strike our pilot-house in the same place our 
steering apparatus would be disabled and we should 
be at the mercy of the batteries on Sewall's Point. The 
Merrimac was retreating towards the latter place. We 
had strict orders to act on the defensive and protect 
the Minnesota. We had evidently finished the Merri- 
mac. As far as the Minnesota was concerned, our 
pilot-house was damaged and we had strict orders not 
to follow the Merrimac up ; therefore, after the Merri- 

18 



mac had retreated, I went to the Minnesota and re- 
mained by her until she was afloat. General Wool 
and Secretary Fox, both have complimented me very 
highly for acting as I did, and said it was the strict 
military plan to follow. This was the reason we did 
not sink the Merrimac, and everyone here capable of 
judging says we acted exactly right. 

' ' The fight was over now, and we were victorious. 
My men and myself were perfectly black with smoke 
and powder ; all my under clothes were perfectly black 
and my person was in the same condition. As we 
ran alongside the Minnesota, Secretary Fox hailed us 
and told us we had fought the greatest naval battle on 
record and behaved as gallantly as men could. He 
saw the whole fight. I felt proud and happy then, 
Mother, and felt fully repaid for all I had suffered. 
When our noble Captain heard the Merrimac had re- 
treated he said he was perfectly happy and willing to 
die, since he had saved the Minnesota. Oh, how I 
love and venerate that man. Most fortunately for him 
his classmate and most intimate friend. Lieutenant 
Wise, saw the fight and was alongside immediately 
after the engagement. He took him on board the 
Baltimore boat and carried him to Washington that 
night. The Minnesota was still aground and we 
stood by her until she floated, about 4 P. M. She 
grounded again shortly and we anchored for the night. 
I was now Captain and ist Lieutenant, and had not 
a soul to help me in the ship as Stodder was injured 
and Webber useless. I had been up so long, had had 
so little rest and been under such a state of excitement 



that my nervous system was completely run down. 
Every bone in my body ached ; my limbs and joints 
were so sore that I could not stand. My nerves and 
muscles twitched as though electric shocks were con- 
tinually passing through them, and my head ached as 
if it would burst. Sometimes I thought my brain 
would come right out over my eyebrows. I laid down 
and tried to sleep, but I might as well have tried to 
fly. About 12 o'clock, acting Lieutenant Frye came 
on board and reported to me for duty. He lives in 
Topsham, opposite Brunswick, and recollects father 
very well. He immediately assumed the duties of ist 
LuflF, and I felt considerably relieved. But no sleep 
did I get that night owing to my excitement. The 
next morning at 8 o'clock we got under weigh, and 
stood through our fleet. Cheer after cheer went up 
from frigates and small crafts for the glorious little 
Monitor, and happy indeed did we all feel. I was 
Captain then of the vessel that had saved Newport 
News, Hampton Roads, Fortress Monroe (as General 
Wool himself said) and perhaps your Northern ports. 
I am unable to express the hapiness and joy I felt to 
think I had ser\'ed my countr}-, so well, at such an im- 
portant time. I passed Farquhar's vessel and an- 
swered his welcome salute. About lo a. m. General 
Wool and Mr. Fox came on board and congratulated 
me upon our victory, etc., etc. We have a standing 
invitation from General Wool to dine with him, but 
no officer is allowed to leave the ship until we sink the 
Merrimac. At eight o'clock that night Tom Sellridge 



came on board and took command, and brought the 
following letter from Fox to me : 

'U. S. Steamer 'Roanoke,' 

Old Point, March i8th. 
My Dear Mr. Greene : 

' Under the extraordinary circumstances of the contest of 
yesterday and the responsibility devolving upon me and your 
extreme youth, I have suggested to Captain Marston to send on 
board the Monitor as temporary commander, Lieutenant Sel- 
fridge, uutil the arrival of Commodore Goldsborough, which 
will be in a few days. I appreciate your position and you must 
appreciate mine, and serve with the same zeal and fidelity. ' 
With the kindest wishes for you all, 

Most truly, 

G. A. FOX. 

' ' Of course I was a little taken aback at first, but 
on a second thought I saw it was as it should be. 
You must recollect the immense responsibility resting 
upon this vessel. We literally hold all the property 
ashore and afloat in these regions, as the wooden ves- 
sels are useless against the Merrimac. At no time 
during the war, either in the navy or army, has any 
one position been so important as this vessel. You 
may think I am exaggerating somewhat because I am 
in the Monitor, but the President, Secretary, General 
Wool,— all think the same, and have telegraphed to 
that effect, for us to be vigilant, etc., etc. 

' ' The Captain receives every day numbers of 
anonymous letters from all parts of the country sug- 
gesting plans for him, and I think some people north 
of Mason and Dixon's Line have a little fear of the 
Merrimac. Under these circumstances it was perfectly 



right and proper in Mr. Fox, to relieve me from the 
command, for you must recollect I had never per- 
formed an}^ but midshipman's dutj' before this ; but 
between you and me I would have kept the command 
with all its responsibility if I had my choice, and either 
the Merrimac or the Monitor should have gone down 
in our next engagement. But then you know, all 
young people are vain, conceited and without judg- 
ment. Even the President telegraphed to Mr. Fox 
to do so. Mr. President, I suppose, thinking Mr. Fox 
rather young, he being only about fort3\ Mr. Fox, 
however, had already done what the President tele- 
graphed to him, several hours before. 

' ' Selfridge was onlj' in command two days until 
lyt. Jeffers arrived from Roanoke Island. Mr. Jeflfers 
is everything desirable ; talented, educated, energetic 
and experienced in battle. Well, I believe, I have 
about finished. Buttsy, my old room-mate, was on 
board the Merrimac; little did we ever think at the 
Academy we should be firing 150 lb. shot at each 
other, but so goes the world. Our pilot house is 
nearly completed. We have now solid oak, extending 
from three inches below the eyeholes in the pilot- 
house, to five feet out on the deck. This makes an 
angle of twenty-seven degrees from the horizontal. 
This is to be covered with three inches of iron. It 
looks exactly like a pyramid. We will now be invul- 
nerable at every point. The deepest indentation on 
our sides was 4 inches; tower 2 inches, and deck ^ 
inch. We were not at all damaged except the pilot- 
house. No one was affected by the concussion in the 



tower, either by our own guns or the shots of the 
enemy. 

" This is a pretty long letter for me, for you recol- 
lect my writing abilities. With much love to you all, 
I remain. 

' ' Your affectionate son and brother, 

"Dana." 
[Copy.] 
I certify that this is a correct copy of the original 
letter now in my possession, written by my father, the 
late Captain S. Dana Greene, U. S. Navy, shortly 
after the fight between the " Monitor" and the " Mer- 
rimac. ' ' The fight took place in Hampton Roads, Va. , 
March 8th, 1862 ; at that time my father was execu- 
tive officer of the * ' Monitor, ' ' having been ordered 
to her when she first went into commission. He was 
twenty-two years old on February nth, 2862, and had 
had a lyieutenaut's commission for about six months, 
although only graduated from the U. S. Naval 
Academy in June, 1859. 

(Signed), S. DANA GREENE. 
Schenectady, N. Y., 

February 26th, i\ 



Colonel Porter then introduced Congressman C. 
A. Boutelle to respond to "The Navy." Mr. Boutelle 
thanked the president for the kindly words with which 
he had introduced him, and said that they more than 
compensated for the detraction which ' ' a momentary 
spasm of wildness that seemed to have taken possession 
of a portion of our press could have inflicted upon us." 



He paid a high tribute to Lieutenant Greene, whose 
intrepid valor had entirely missed fitting recognition 
in "the rapid hastening and thickening of events of 
such a critical character that they obliterated each 
other as do succeeding waves." 

Coming to the subject of the development of our 
modern navy, Mr. Boutelle said: "Standing as we 
do at peace with all the world, but still within the 
shadow of hostilities, I am glad to be able to congratu- 
late you upon the magnificent progress that has been 
made within the last ten years. There has been no 
domain in which the magnificent power and resources 
and splendid adaptability of the American people has 
been exhibited so mai^^elously as it has been in the 
rehabilitation of the American nav3^ 

"When I went to Congress in 1883," he con- 
tinued, " the United States had not one flag floating 
above a modern battleship. We have to-day nine first- 
class battleships, completed and under construction. 
The Massachusetts is believed to be able to fight any 
ship built, and if she can't, the Iowa will. The funda- 
mental principle on which our battleships are con- 
structed is that they must be able to distance any ship 
that can whip them, and whip any ship that can catch 
them. I have come over to Philadelphia to-night to 
meet with some of my old naval comrades, and assure 
them that I have been doing a little something at my 
end of the line. ' ' 



Preamble to the Constitution 

OF THE 

Naval Order of the United States 



Whereas, Many of the principal battles and fa- 
mous victories of the several wars in which the United 
States has participated, were fought and achieved by 
the Naval forces ; 

Whereas, It is well and fitting that the illustrious 
deeds of the great Naval commanders, their companion 
officers in arms, and their subordinates in the wars of 
the United States should be favored and honored and 
respected ; — 

Therefore, Entertaining the most exalted admira- 
tion for the undying achievements of the Navy, we, 
the survivors and descendants of participants of those 
memorable conflicts, have joined ourselves together and 
have instituted the "Naval Order of the United 
States," that we may transmit to our latest posterity 
their glorious names and memories ; and to encourage 
research and publication of data pertaining to Naval 
art and science, and to establish libraries in which to 
preserve all documents, rolls, books, portraits and 
relics relating to the Navy and its heroes at all times. 



OFFICERS 

OF THE 

GENERAL COMMANDERY. 
1895-1898. 



General Commander, 

Rear Admiral John Grimes Walker, U. S. N. 

(Penna. Commandery) . 

Vice-Ce7ieral Commanders, 

Rear Admiral Francis Asbury Roe, U. S. N. 

(Mass. Commandery). 

Chief Engineer George Wallace Melville, U. S. N. 
(D. C. Commandery). 

Colonel John Biddle Porter, 
(Penna. Commandery), 

General Recorder, 

Captain Henry Hobart Bellas, U. S. a. 

(Penna. Commandery). 

Assistant General Recorder, 

Frederick Bacon Philbrook, 

(Mass. Commandery). 

General Treasurer, 

Lieutenant Jarvis Bonesteel Edson, (late U. S. N.) 

(N. Y. Commandery). 

General Registrar, 

Charles Bunker Dahlgrkn, (late U. S. N.) 

(Penna. Commandery). 

26 



General Historian, 

Major Richard Strader Coi^lum, U. S. M. C. 
(Penna. Commandery). 

General Chaplain, 

Rt. Rev, W1L1.1AM Stevens Perry, D. D., LL. D., D. C. I. 

(Bishop of Iowa), (Mass. Commandery). 

Members of General Council, 

Major Horatio Barnard Lowry, U. S. M. C. 

(D. C. Commandery). 

Commodore Edward EE1.1.S Potter, U. S. N. (retired). 

(Penna. Commandery). 

^Commander Fei,ix McCuri,ey, U. S. N. 

(Penna. Commandery). 

Commodore Norman H. Farquhar, U. S. N. 

(Penna. Commandery). 

Lieutenant LoYAti, Farragut (late U. S. A.) 

(N. Y. Commandery). 

*Hon. John Hoffman Coli^amore, 

(Mass. Commandery). 

Chief :Eagineer Louis J. Ai.i,en, U. S. N. 

(N. Y. Commandery). 

Henry Chauncey, Jr., 

(N. Y. Commandery). 

Lieutenant Robert S. Critchei.1-, (late U. S. N.) 
(Illinois Commandery). 
♦Deceased. 



27 



Pennsylvania Commandery 

OF THE 

Naval Order of the United States. 



Com77ia7id£r, 

John Biddle Porter. 

Vice- Commander, 

Commodore Edward Eells Potter, U. S. N. 

Recorder, 

James Varnum Peter Turner, (Late U. S. N.) 

Treasurer, 

William Ellison Bullus. 

Registrar, 

Charles Bunker Dahlgren, (Late U. S. N.) 

Historian , 
Major Richard Strader Collum, U. S. ^L C. 
Chaplain, 
Reverend Horace Edwin Hay den. 
Council, 
Rear Admiral John Grimes Walker, U. S. N., 
Commodore Norman H. Farquhar, U. S. N., 
Henry Kuhl Nichols, 
Edward Trench ard. 
Captain Henry B. Seely, U. S. N., 
Captain Henry Hobart Bellas, U. S. A., 
Henry Kuhl Dillard, 

Edward Rutledge Shubrick, (Late U. S. N.) 
Henry M. M. Richards, (Late U. S. N.) 

2S 



MEMBERSHIP ROLL 

OF THE 

Pennsylvania Commandery 
N. o. u. s. 



Barton, William Henry, (Late U. S. N.) 
Bellas, Henry Hobart, Captain, U. S. A., 
Breese, Edward Yard, 
BuUus, William Ellison, 
Burns, Charles Marquedant, (Late U. S. N.) 
Burns, Frank, 

Clay, Antony Alexander, (Captain U. S. Vols.) 
Collum, Richard Strader, Major, U. S. Marine Corps, 
Dahlgren, Charles Bunker, (Late Captain U. S. Vols.) 
Dahlgren, John A,, 
Dechert, Henry M., 
Dillard, Henry Kuhl, 
Dorcy, Ben Holladay, 

Emanuel, Jonathan M., Pass'd Ass' t Engineer, U.S.N., 
Engard, Albert C, Chief Engineer, U. S. N., 
Farquhar, Norman H., Commodore, U. S. N., 
Feaster, Joseph, Naval Constructer, U. S. N,, 
Forsyth, James McQueen, Commander, U. S. N. 
Forney, James, Colonel, U. S. Marine Corps, 
Frazer, James Patriot Wilson, 

29 



Frazer, Reah, Paymaster, U. S. N., 

Gill, William Harrison, 

Haddock, Stanley Brickett, 

Hayden, Rev. Horace Edwin, 

Heyl, Charles Heath, Captain, U. S. A., 

Hoff, William Baiubridge, Captain, U. S. N., 

Hoflf, Arthur Bainbridge, Ensign, U. S. N,, 

Jordan, John Woolf, 

Kaiser, JuHus A., Ass't Engineer, U. S. N., 

Lardner, James L., 

Marston, John, 

McMaster, Gilbert Totten, 

Morrell, Edward De Vere, 

Morris, Henry, M. D. , 

Nichols, Henry Kuhl, 

Oliphant, Alexander Coulter, (Late U. S. N.) 

Porter, John Biddle, 

Potter, Edward Eells, Commodore, U. S. N. , 

Rearick, Peter A., Chief Engineer, U. S. N., 

Reiter, George C. , Commander, U. S. N. , 

Richards, Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg, (LateU. S. N.) 

Robinson, Louis W., Chief Engineer, U. S. N., 

Ruschenberger, Charles Wister, (Late U. S. N.) 

Schofield, Walter K., Medical Director, U. S. N., 

Seely, Henry Bates, Captain, U. S. N., 

Shubrick, Edward Rutledge, 

Trenchard, Edward, 

Turner, James Varnum Peter, (Late U. S. N.) 

Walker, John Grimes, Rear Admiral, U. S. N. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



013 701 675 8 



